Call of Duty is one of the most recognizable game franchises ever, and is also one of the longest-running FPS franchises, with the first CoD game being launched in 2003.
Since then – and despite some hiccups along the way – it became a gaming juggernaut: one of the best-selling series ever, with millions of fans buying each new iteration of the game. And today we’re looking at the Call of Duty game series as a whole: all the games listed in order based on each title’s release date, but also in story mode if you want to play them chronologically.
We’ve seen a new entry almost every year, sometimes with different teams working on a game so they have more than one year to do it right. There have also been spin-offs and remasters, but today we’re focusing on the mainline CoD games: first in release order, then in storyline order.
Call of Duty Games in Release Order
I usually focus on casual games here (mainly HOPAs and other adventures), but some series are so iconic that you have to write about them as well. So… let’s jump right in!
1. Call of Duty
Release date: Oct. 29, 2003 | Developer: Infinity Ward | Platforms: PC, macOS, PS3, Xbox 360
The first CoD launched on PC and Mac in 2003, and it was a massive hit from the get-go. Set in the World War II times (as most games released back then were), it included a solid single-player campaign and six multiplayer modes, which was a lot for the time.
Three Allied campaigns (US, UK, Soviet) stitch together the push to Berlin. Tight squad assaults, iron sights, and set-piece missions define the feel. It ended up selling 4.5 million, mainly boosted by the multiplayer modes which were still somewhat fresh back then.
2. Call of Duty 2
Release date: Oct. 25, 2005 | Developer: Infinity Ward | Platforms: PC, macOS, Xbox 360
CoD 2 was a major step up and became a flagship launch title for the Xbox 360, truly kicking off the franchise’s console dominance. It was also set in the WWII times, and ended up selling almost 6 million units.
Larger battles, clearer sightlines, and smarter enemy waves keep pressure on, while regenerating health replaced the classic med kits.
3. Call of Duty 3
Release date: Nov. 7, 2006 | Developer: Treyarch | Platforms: PS2, PS3, Wii, Xbox, Xbox 360
Console-only WWII follow-up covering the Normandy breakout. Quick objectives, improvised vehicles, and close-quarters pushes dominate the flow.
This game marked Treyarch’s first try at the series and, even though it “only” sold a bit over 7 million units, it established its developers as a fan-favorite.
4. Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare
Release date: Nov. 6, 2007 | Developer: Infinity Ward | Platforms: PC, macOS, PS3, PS4, Wii, Xbox 360, Xbox One
The game that changed everything – the one that many people still consider the best in the series.
Modern Warfare moved CoD into the present day (a great move, because all the World War II-inspired shooters were starting to feel old at that time). This new approach brought a now-iconic campaign, but also multiplayer that introduced Prestige mode. Perks, Create-a-Class, and killstreaks turn multiplayer into a meta you theorycraft for hours.
5. Call of Duty: World at War
Release date: Nov. 11, 2008 | Developer: Treyarch | Platforms: PC, PS3, Wii, Xbox 360
Treyarch brought the game back to the WWII era, upsetting many players. Still, this was not a bad game, as the sales numbers show (15.7 million, just like the first Modern Warfare game a year prior).
This proved that Activision’s decision to have different studios work on the game was a great one. It also proved that a super-saturated World War II setting can still be innovated: Treyarch introduced the now legendary Nazi Zombies mode.
6. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2
Release date: Nov. 10, 2009 | Developer: Infinity Ward | Platforms: PC, macOS, PS3, PS4 (campaign remaster), Xbox 360, Xbox One (remaster)
Task Force 141 chases a global terror spiral. Spec Ops co-op challenges and louder streaks raise the stakes between missions.
Few people anticipated the second “Modern Warfare” game in the series to be as successful as it was. But MW2 became a phenomenon, selling over 25 million copies worldwide and cementing this franchise as a gold mine. Or maybe it’s just Soap, Ghost, and that airport mission that made it unforgettable.
7. Call of Duty: Black Ops
Release date: Nov. 9, 2010 | Developer: Treyarch | Platforms: PC, macOS, PS3, PS4, Xbox 360, Xbox One
Even though Treyarch kept the game in the past, this one was set during the Cold War era, in the 1980s. It introduced many new things that became fan-favorites, like the unforgettable characters Mason and Woods, and an expanded Zombies mode.
This also marked the birth of the “Black Ops” saga and shattered, once more, sales records (with over 30.70 million copies sold).
8. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3
Release date: Nov. 8, 2011 | Developer: Infinity Ward | Platforms: PC, macOS, PS3, Wii, Xbox 360
World conflict runs hot across major cities. Survival mode pairs with Spec Ops for repeatable co-op grind outside campaign.
The game marked the conclusion of the Modern Warfare trilogy – one that we’ll get back to eventually. But for now, it seemed that the “modern” era was milked dry and something new was needed.
9. Call of Duty: Black Ops II
Release date: Nov. 12, 2012 | Developer: Treyarch | Platforms: PC, PS3, Wii U, Xbox 360
Moving from the Vietnam War times to the near future, Black Ops 2 became an instant hit and a game that many consider the best CoD ever (or at least most of those who wouldn’t swear by the first Modern Warfare title).
No matter where you stand, you have to agree that its competitive multiplayer, branching campaign, and deep Zombies mode made it a classic.
10. Call of Duty: Ghosts
Release date: Nov. 5, 2013 | Developer: Infinity Ward | Platforms: PC, PS3, PS4, Xbox 360, Xbox One
Post-attack America forms a new unit against the Federation. Extinction adds alien horde runs while maps shift under your feet.
A standalone title known mostly for its companion: a dog named Riley. It was the first game in the series to record fewer sales than the previous year’s release. It didn’t do bad at all, though, still bagging close to 29 million units sold.
11. Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare
Release date: Nov. 3, 2014 | Developer: Sledgehammer Games, High Moon Studios, Raven Software | Platforms: PC, PS3, PS4, Xbox 360, Xbox One
Even though it had multiple developers working on various aspects of the game (or maybe just because of that), it was the worst-received CoD game in a while, marking a somewhat disappointing debut for developers Sledgehammer Games & High Moon Studios.
Set in the future, the game delivered exosuits and jetpacks, launching the series into a three-year “advanced movement” era that fortunately got better year over year.
12. Call of Duty: Black Ops III
Release date: Nov. 6, 2015 | Developer: Treyarch – main game & Beenox, Mercenary Technology for the previous-gen consoles | Platforms: PC, macOS, PS3, PS4, Xbox 360, Xbox One
BO3 introduced Specialists, each with their own unique abilities and gear, and it was better received than the previous year’s game.
13. Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare
Release date: Nov. 4, 2016 | Developer: Infinity Ward | Platforms: PC, PS4, Xbox One
Command a carrier, choose sorties, and dogfight in the Jackal. A focused space war arc pairs with grounded, fast TTK multiplayer.
Even though Infinity Ward took the fight to space, fan fatigue with futuristic settings led to a major course correction and resulting in one of the worst-performing CoD games in years.
It’s trailer was also, at the time, the second-most disliked video on Youtube.
14. Call of Duty: WWII
Release date: Nov. 3, 2017 | Developer: Sledgehammer Games, Raven Software | Platforms: PC, PS4, Xbox One
A return to boots-on-the-ground gameplay and the series’ WWII roots. And a good call, in the end, delivering a classic campaign and solid multiplayer.
15. Call of Duty: Black Ops 4
Release date: Oct. 12, 2018 | Developer: Treyarch, Raven Software, Beenox | Platforms: PC, PS4, Xbox One
This game marked a major shift in the franchise, and proved that multiplayer was the place to be. BO4 dropped the traditional campaign, but introduced CoD’s first ever battle royale mode, Blackout.
16. Call of Duty: Mobile
Release date: Oct. 1, 2019 | Developer: TiMi Studio Group | Platforms: Android, iOS
The game moved to mobile devices, like most big names at the time. It ended up as a masive hit, with over $1 Billion in revenue and over 500 million downloads worldwide.
17. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare
Release date: Oct. 25, 2019 | Developer: Infinity Ward |Platforms: PC, PS4, Xbox One
A ground-up reboot of the Modern Warfare sub-series, bringing back Captain Price with a new, gritty tone, and a brand new mission.
18. Call of Duty: Warzone
Release date: March 10, 2020 | Developer: Raven Software, Infinity Ward | Platforms: PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S
Launched during the Covid pandemic, the free-to-play Warzone exploded to over 100 million downloads and became a series staple with live events and seasonal updates. A BR with Gulag, buybacks, and loadout drops.
19. Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War
Release date: Nov. 13, 2020 | Developer: Treyarch, Raven Software | Platforms: PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S
A direct sequel to the original Black Ops, featuring the return of Mason, Woods, and Hudson, this game also did incredibly well.
20. Call of Duty: Vanguard
Release date: Nov. 5, 2021 | Developer: Sledgehammer Games | Platforms: PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S
Another return to WWII, but this time an unsuccessful one. While exact numbers are not known, Activision confirmed that sales of the game underperformed.
It wasn’t necessarily a bad game, but a lack of innovation hurt it, despite the entertaining campaign and multiplayer.
21. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II
Release date: Oct. 28, 2022 | Developer: Infinity Ward | Platforms: PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S
The direct sequel to the 2019 reboot of the MW sub-series. It brought back Ghost and Soap and introduced a deeper Gunsmith system, but also shattered all records of the series, becoming the fastest to reach $1 billion in sales (it got there in just 10 days, wih $800 million generated in its first three days).
22. Call of Duty: Warzone 2.0 (and DMZ)
Release date: Nov. 16, 2022 | Developer: Infinity Ward, Raven Software | Platforms: PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S
While the game retained the name Call of Duty: Warzone, it’s actually a massive update, set on the new Al Mazrah map, and introducing the extraction-shooter mode DMZ.
23. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III
Release date: Nov. 10, 2023 | Developer: Sledgehammer Games | Platforms: PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S
A direct sequel to MWII, pitting Task Force 141 against the classic villain Makarov. It launched with 16 remastered MW2 maps and an upgraded Zombies mode, built around an open world player versus environment experience (and created by Treyarch).
24. Call of Duty: Warzone Mobile
Release date: March 21, 2024 | Developer: Multiple studios | Platforms: Android, iOS
The full Warzone experience on mobile, featuring the beloved Verdansk map and cross-progression. However, it didn’t do well at all, being discontinued already – even though it can still be played today, as its servers are still live.
25. Call of Duty: Black Ops 6
Release date: Oct. 25, 2024 | Developer: Treyarch, Raven Software | Platforms: PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S
Set in the 1990s, BO6 features the return of round-based Zombies and new movement tech called “omnimovement.” It also brings back the classic Prestige system.
26. Call of Duty: Black Ops 7
Release date: 2025 | Developer: Treyarch, Raven Software | Platforms: PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S
What can be considered a surprised reveal, this marks the first back-to-back Black Ops game releases. Set in 2035, it follows David Mason from BO2 against a new threat.
Call of Duty Games in Storyline Order
Because of the different developers, reboots, and alternate arcs, as well as the fact that not all the games in the franchise are tied, it’s difficult to find an easy chronological order in which to play them.
While I believe that the best approach would be to play them based on their release date to avoid having the older ones feel dated, if you truly want to play them in story order, here’s how you should approach them:
- Call of Duty: WWII
- Call of Duty 2
- Call of Duty: Vanguard
- Call of Duty: World at War
- Call of Duty
- Call of Duty 3
- Call of Duty: Black Ops
- Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War
- Call of Duty: Black Ops II
- Call of Duty: Black Ops 6
- Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare
- Call of Duty: Modern Warfare (2019)
- Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 (2009)
- Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3
- Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II (2022)
- Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III (2023)
- Call of Duty: Ghosts
- Call of Duty: Black Ops II
- Call of Duty: Black Ops 7
- Call of Duty: Black Ops 4
- Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare
- Call of Duty: Black Ops III
This would be it! You now have all the games in the series listed in order, and you also know how to play them if you want to follow, more or less, a chronological timeline.
For more AAA game series in order, published here at RGameReview, I recommend reading the following:
- Batman: Arkham Games in Order
- Fallout Game Series in Order
- All Dune Games Listed in Order
- Fire Emblem Games List in Order
- God of War Games in Order
- Xenoblade Chronicles Games in Order
What’s your favorite in the series? Let us know all your thoughts about CoD in the comments down below!